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The Parish of Astley |
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Collegiate Church
The new Collegiate Church built in
1343 was dedicated by Sir Thomas Astley
to the Blessed
Virgin, and so
the present church is known as the
Church of St. Mary the Virgin. When the building was completed, the status
of those clergy attached to chantry in the former building was changed, as follows:-
The
warden became dean, two of the seven priests were termed canons, or prebendaries, taking the title of their respective prebends
of Milverton and Wolvey,
and of the remainder, one was termed priest-vicar, two
were styled vicars, and there were
two priests. In fact, an elaborate foundation was established similar to that
generally associated with a cathedral church.
This establishment,
having
been founded,
continued to flourish for just
over two hundred years, and throughout
this time a long succession of
deans
ruled over the whole collegiate establishment. The first dean was
William Ernald, who was warden in
1343, when the change
above was made. Full provision was made
by Sir Thomas Astley for the dean and
his staff of canons and priests.
Lands were set apart from which money
should be collected with which to
maintain
them in
their office. There was at that time a
rectory house at Astley, which had no doubt been the residence of former
incumbents before the new church was built The duties of the priests were laid out in some detail by Sir Thomas Astley when he founded the Collegiate Church. It was a cross church with a nave and aisles extending about 90 feet to the west of the tower, the present body of the church being the original choir. North and south of this part of the building were two handsome monumental chapels. whereas to the north and south of the tower would be the transepts, running out some 30 to 40 feet. The tower was surmounted by a fine steeple which at night exhibited a light for the guidance, of travellers in the forest, and in consequence acquired the title of the Lantern of Arden. The total length of the building as it then was would have been about 185 feet, the width of the choir the same as that of the present nave, and the width of the nave about 50 to 60 feet. The church terminated at its eastern extremity where the present chancel arch now is, and here was the old east window of the original choir, the upper portion of the lights now blocked up being visible above the arch. This splendid building continued thus for well nigh two hundred and fifty years, and it was not till about 1580 that the catastrophe occurred which reduced it to the smaller, but still very fine building we have today as the present Parish Church.
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